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THE BOOKS OF ROMANS
(21 week study)
Lesson Subject Passage
Introduction
1 Prologue 1:1-17
Paul`s Calling, Concern, Confdence
2 Condemnation oI Ungodly 1:18-32
3 Condemnation oI Moralist 2:1-16
4 Condemnation oI the Jew 2:17-3:8
5 Condemnation oI All Men 3:9-31
6 Righteousness oI Abraham 4:1-25
7 Justifcation Expounded 5:1-21
8 Freedom Irom Sin`s Power 6:1-23
9 Believer`s Struggle with Sin 7:1-25
10 Freedom to Live in the Spirit 8:1-17
11 Sanctifcation Realized in Glorifcation 8:18-39
12 Israel`s Election by God 9:1-29
13 Israel`s Present Rejection 9:30-10:21
14 Present Rejection oI Israel by God 11:1-36
Promise oI Future Restoration oI Israel
15 TransIormed Living 12:1-8
In Relation to God
In Relation to Church
16 Relating to Others 12:9-13:14
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17 In Relation to Debatable/Gray Areas 14:1-23
18 In Relation to Following Christ`s Example 15:1-13
19 Postlogue 15:14-33
(Paul`s Purpose, Plans, Prayer)
20 Postlogue 16:1-27
(Paul`s Personal Greetings,
Exhortation and Benediction)
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PASSAGE : Romans 1:1-17
SUBJECT : Prologue - Paul`s Calling, Concern and Confdence
FOCUS : Ashamed oI the gospel?
OUTLINE :
I. Prologue (1:1-17)
A. Paul`s calling (1-7)
1. As a bond-servant oI Christ (1a)
2. As an apostle oI Christ (1b)
3. As a preacher oI the gospel (1c-4)
4. As a missionary to Gentiles (5-7)
B. Paul`s concern (8-15)
1. His thanksgiving (8)
2. His prayers (9-10)
3. His encouragement (11-12)
4. His compulsion (13-14)
5. His zeal (15)
C. Paul`s confdence in the gospel (16-17)
1. Power oI the gospel (16)
2. Practice oI the gospel (17)
Introduction
AIter introducing himselI and stating his credentials, Paul moves
quickly to exalt the Sonship oI the Lord Jesus Christ and to proclaim
the saving power oI the gospel Ior all who believe, i.e. exercise Iaith
in Christ.
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The purpose oI Romans is to declare the righteousness oI God
and to demonstrate how man can, through Iaith in Christ, gain the
righteousness necessary to restore his relationship to God which has
been broken by sin.
Observations & Comments:
Prologue (1:1-7)
Paul`s calling (1-7)
1. Since Paul had apparently not been to Rome yet nor had he Iounded
the church there, he realized that it was necessary Ior him to establish
his credentials. He reIerred to himselI as a 'bond-servant, a slave who
had voluntarily attached himselI to his master, in this case Christ.
Paul also claimed 'apostleship and being 'set apart Ior the gospel,
which constituted the authority Ior what he would say (see Acts
9:1-16). And while every believer is not an apostle in the same
sense as was Paul, we are all ambassadors Ior Christ (see Acts 1:8;
Lk. 24:46-49; 2 Cor. 5:18-20) and have had the ministry oI the gospel
entrusted to us (1:1).
2. Paul viewed the gospel as being an integral part oI the 'Holy
Scriptures, here reIerring obviously to the Old Testament. (CI. Luke
24:26-27, 44; Acts 8:32-35; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). The message oI the gospel
was seen as 'concerning His Son, Iocusing on Jesus Christ. Note that
1:3 confrms the real humanity oI Christ as a 'descendant oI David
according to the fesh, and 1:4 confrms the deity oI Jesus as the 'Son
oI God. The resurrection oI Jesus by the power oI God 'according
to the spirit oI holiness (i.e. Holy Spirit) aIfrmed His Iull deity and
the Iulfllment oI His incarnation role. That Jesus was 'declared
to be the Son oI God does not mean that He became God`s Son at
that point (see John 1:1-4; Heb. 13:8). He has eternally been the
Son oI God with the resurrection being the greatest aIfrmation oI
that Iact (1:2-4).
3. Further, Paul sees himselI as a missionary to the Gentiles Ior the
sake oI Christ. Notice at the outset Paul`s emphasis on the critical
necessity oI Iaith Ior salvation whether oI Jew or Gentile ('obedience
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oI Iaith). The 'saints (set apart, holy ones) at Rome are really no
diIIerent (1:5-7).
Paul`s concern (1:8-15)
4. This paragraph along with chapter 7 and 15:14 16:27 comprise the
most personally intense sections oI Romans as Paul bares his heart.
Paul is frst grateIul Ior the way the Iaith oI the Roman believers
is becoming known (1:8), and then reminds the leaders oI how he
consistently prays Ior them (1:9) and that God`s will may be Ior Him
to come to Rome (1:10; 15:21-24). Note also in 1:9 that 'serve can
also be translated worship so that Paul considers his proclaiming oI
the gospel as more than a vocational matter.
Paul`s desire is that through the mutual sharing ('imparting) oI
spiritual giIts he along with them will be strengthened and encouraged
(1:11-12).
5. Paul`s reason Ior preaching the gospel at Rome was to 'obtain Iruit
among the rest oI the Gentiles (1:13-15). Paul Ielt a special call to
the Gentiles who here are put into two groups Greeks (wise) and
barbarians (Ioolish-non-Greeks who were un-cultural). Paul`s zeal to
preach the gospel stayed at a Iever pitch (1:15). What is the gospel it
is the good news that Christ died on the cross Ior our sins, rose Irom
the dead and that when we receive Him by Iaith, His righteousness
is imputed to us.
Paul`s condence in the gospel (1:16-17)
6. The theme and essence oI Romans is captured in these two verses:
'For I am not ashamed oI the gospel, Ior it is the power oI God Ior
salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew frst and also to the
Greek.
For in it the righteousness oI God is revealed Irom Iaith to Iaith; as
it is written, But the righteous man shall live by Iaith`.
Regardless oI what men would say, Paul was not 'ashamed oI
the gospel Ior he knew its source and suIfciency. We ought never
apologize Ior or shrink back in shame Irom sharing the gospel.
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Paul`s confdence rests in the gospel Ior it is the 'power oI God
Ior salvation to everyone who believes (see Luke 18:26-27) Ior
through the gospel the 'righteousness oI (Irom) God is revealed to
men (1:16-17). What Paul is saying is simply this the gospel is the
means through which unrighteous men can obtain the righteousness
oI God so they can come back into 'right relationship with Him (see
3:21-22; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21). And the human channel through
which that comes is Iaith (belieI, confdent trust) in God, although
the Iaith to believe is also the giIt oI God (Eph. 2:8-10). 'From Iaith
to Iaith may mean:
a. That Iaith matures over time or
b. That Iaith is essential in sanctifcation just as in salvation.
c. That salvation starts and ends with Iaith (see Heb. 12:2) or
d. That Iaith comes as a result oI another`s obedient Iaith (see
10:11-17).
All oI the above are true.
It is through the consistent exercise oI Iaith that the righteousness
oI God is revealed to men. 'Righteousness reIers to 'being right with
God (i.e. pure and just). It is what God is and what man apart Irom
Christ lacks. Only when we are morally pure and just in Christ can we
be 'right with God.
The initial message oI Romans Irom the start is that the Christian
is saved by Iaith and lives his liIe by Iaith (see Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:7).
Note also that it was no diIIerent in the Old Testament salvation was
also by Iaith (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3) and the believer was expected to
live by Iaith (Hab.2:4). The only real diIIerence was in the conscious
content oI that Iaith.
In the prologue then, Paul has ably set the stage Ior the balance oI
the book. Having introduced us to the concept oI righteousness, he
will demonstrate in chapters 2 and 3 that apart Irom God, man has no
righteousness oI his own that is acceptable to God.
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DIRECTED STUDY QUESTIONS
Romans 1:1-17
1. What terms does Paul use to describe himselI?
2. Do you agree that 1:16-17 expresses the theme oI Romans?
3. Why is 'righteousness lacking in man?
4. In what way is God`s righteousness revealed in Christ?
5. What evidence do you see in chapter 1 oI the humanity oI Christ?
oI His deity?
6. According to Paul, what was one purpose oI God Ior the
resurrection?
7. What part does 'Iaith play in salvation? in sanctifcation?
8. Why was Paul not ashamed oI the gospel?
9. What causes many Christians Irom time to time to apologize Ior,
avoid, or not be eager to share the gospel?